Femke Heemskerk Moving to France

MARSEILLE, France, September 14. ACCORDING to Zwemsite, Dutch sprint star Femke Heemskerk is heading to Marseille, France to train under Romain Barnier. Heemskerk will train with the likes of Camille Lacourt and Fabian Gilot while working with Barnier.

Heemskerk is not defecting, as during international meets and training camps, she will still train with her current coach Martin Truijens of the Nationals Swimming Institute in Amsterdam.

Heemskerk is coming off a bronze-medal finish in the 100 free at the European Championships, and had a strong swim as part of The Netherlands' usually-vaunted 400 free relay. Heemskerk, however, was the only one of the super four swimmers in that relay as Inge Dekker, Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Marleen Veldhuis missed the meet for various reasons including a pregnancy for Veldhuis.